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Monthly Archives: November 2015

So you’re a restaurant owner that needs more customers on the weekend?

When restaurants are struggling to get customers through the door, SEO can be the answer. The terms “restaurants” and “restaurants near me” are two of the most searched for terms on the internet, which means that search engine optimisation is an ideal way of attracting customers who may have otherwise never heard about your restaurant. The result is a restaurant with the potential to grow substantially.

The Importance of Local SEO
According to a recent survey completed by Open Table, 85 per cent of respondents in the U.K. admitted they “always” or “frequently” look to the internet when searching for a restaurant. In fact, Single Platform has found that 75 per cent of customers report they frequently choose where to dine based on local search results. Local SEO improves your ranking when a local search is performed and puts your restaurant near the top of the list when a potential customer is actively searching for a place to eat and spend their money. It should come as no surprise that local SEO has a proven ability to improve in-store sales.

Mobile Optimisation is Just as Important
81 per cent of customers turn to their mobile device to perform a restaurant search. As a result, restaurants that do not have a responsive design that can seamlessly adapt to any size screen, while also including easily clickable links and readable text, are at a huge disadvantage. This applies to both where they rank in search engine results and how mobile users will perceive them. The truth is that when a mobile user experiences any difficulty looking at a restaurant’s website and contact information on their device, they are almost certain to quickly move onto another site.

What Do Customers Want to See on a Restaurant Website?
According to the Open Table survey referenced above:

82 per cent of customers want to be able to check out an online menu (preferably with prices included) before they commit to eating at any restaurant. Keep in mind that it is important to update your online menu anytime you change your in-store menu.

60 per cent of customers appreciate images, but make sure they are high-quality shots. There’s an old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words. You may find it is worth spending a little money to hire a professional photographer. After all, great photos could really encourage someone to eat at your restaurant, while lackluster photos could have the complete opposite effect.

Interestingly, 90 per cent of respondents admitted they would appreciate the ability to make a reservation directly through your website, instead of having to place an actual phone call.

65 per cent of respondents reported they would like to be able to find how long your restaurant’s wait time for a table was through your website.

Finally, 61 per cent of customers admitted they would like for daily specials to be made available on your website.

In today’s world, it can be almost impossible for a restaurant to survive, especially when you consider all their competition, without a high-quality website that has been search engine optimised. Finding an SEO company is the easy part but finding the right one that’s going to actually deliver you results is a whole other issue.

The SEO and SEM market is flooded, globally. With overseas companies vying for business from homegrown firms. Just using a simple phrase like SEO consultant London will bring you back thousands of search results. But in truth only a tiny percentage of those companies are going to deliver the results your business needs. So how do you siphon the good from the bad?

The simple answer is real life and proven results from existing businesses that have benefited from the search engine optimisation a company has provided. There are many ways to measure a company but proven results is the preferred method.

In a 2014 study, 96 per cent of respondents admitted that website design is an important factor when they are considering whether or not to purchase a product or service from an online business. Now, take a minute to really look at your website before answering the following question. What does your website design say about your online business?

What Constitutes a Well Designed Website?
According to a Google study, the more simple your website design, the better. Potential consumers want to be able to find the product or information they are looking for quickly. If your webpage is too busy or flashy, cluttered with unrelated text or products, or includes unrelated sidebar ads, it puts consumers off. An astonishing 100 per cent of respondents in the 2014 study revealed they had left a website because it was too difficult to use or poorly designed. 53 per cent said they left sometimes, while 47 per cent admitted they left frequently.

A well designed website has content that is fresh and up-to-date. It goes without saying that customers expect business websites to contain the newest information regarding its company, products, and services. If it doesn’t, customers will assume one of two things. One, your company has gone out of business and you failed to take down the website. Two, you just aren’t innovative and lag behind your competition. In either instance, a potential customer will leave your site with no intention of returning.

In addition, all business websites should have a clear call to action. If not, you will lose innumerable opportunities to turn visitors to your website into actual paying customers. Having done some core research into websites that meet this important need we found only a handful for each country and industry that are doing a great job. Ironically, web masters and builders do not necessarily know that an attractive site is not a converting site. So we focused in on web agencies to find out more. In our research we focused on the UK web creative industry, using all of the major cities to compare. Finding the businesses with Google’s aid was easy by using keywords like web agency in London and web design in Bristol. We scouted the top 6 major UK cities and found only a handful of page 1 sites using effective calls to action.

What Do Potential Customers Pay Attention To?
Potential customers are much more perceptive than you might think. For example, if your website contains the following flaws, they are more likely to walk away.

Grammar: When it comes to website designing, it is imperative that you proofread your content. When your site features misspelled words, incorrect verb usage, or other obvious grammatical errors, 59 per cent of consumers will avoid doing business with you.

Self Build With Content Management Systems: In most cases, a potential customer’s first experience with your business is through your website. First impressions are 94 per cent design related. If you have little to no experience with website design, will you be able to create a website that captures their attention and gives off a good first impression?

Photos: Customers can easily spot stock photography and 87 per cent of them believe that stock photos make your website look cheap. It’s important that your online business website include images that really support your message gives visitors the right perception of your business.Links: If your links do not direct customers to the right spot or are dead, customers lack trust in your abilities, which often leads them away from your website.

For an online business to achieve high levels of success, they must have a website that inspires confidence and trust in their products or services. Does your website do this?

According to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS), 193,198 clients attended an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program between 2013 and 2014 in the UK. These clients had the option of attending a private rehab centre or a NHS rehab facility. Regardless of which program they attended, these programmes are businesses and not a charity. However, there are a few charity drug rehabs in the UK, but it can be very difficult to get a spot in their recovery program.

Private Drug Rehab Programmes in the UK
When someone enters a private drug rehab facility, they either have to pay for it out of their own pocket or use their private insurance. The average cost of a 7-10 day detox, including detox medications, therapy, and room and board is around £2000, while a 28 day residential program typically costs around £4000-6000. However, this price can be substantially higher depending on luxurious the centre is. In some cases, an addict can be admitted into a private facility in as little as 24 hours. Typical examples of private rehabilitation centers are WesternCounselling.com/rehab Bristol and The Priory.

NHS Drug Rehab Program
UK residents do have the opportunity to receive treatment free of charge through a NHS rehab program. Funded by the government, these programmes can be just as effective as private rehabs, though they are not as easy to be accepted into. However, it tends to take considerably longer to be accepted into this type of program and there is no guarantee that someone will be admitted to an inpatient rehab centre. Instead, they may be sent to several different clinics throughout the area for various treatments, depending on their drug of choice. For example, someone who is struggling with opiates is likely to be sent to inpatient treatment because withdrawal tends to be very difficult. However, someone who is addicted to marijuana is more likely to be sent to outpatient services due to the relatively easy withdrawal.

In the event a person is admitted into an inpatient centre, they should understand that they will receive basic treatment and therapy. NHS programmes do not offer the complementary therapies, such as art and equine therapy that are commonplace in private drug rehab centres.

Charity Drug Rehab Programmes in the UK
Charity drug rehab programmes receive their funding entirely through private donations from corporations and individuals. Because they rely completely on others for funding, availability is very limited, making these programmes extremely difficult to get into. However, they are well worth the effort it usually takes to be accepted into these programmes. They usually offer the same high-quality therapy and care that is provided in private rehab centres for little to no charge.

Charity programmes operate both inpatient and outpatient clinics. The Amy Winehouse Foundation has a list of charity drug rehab centres located in the UK.

For anyone struggling with addiction, a drug rehab centre, whether inpatient or outpatient, is crucial for recovery. However, it is important to remember that unless a drug rehab centre is clearly listed as a charity, it is a business with the goal of making money.

Their Online Presence is a Game Changer

For moving or removal companies who want to grow, a strong social media presence can be exactly what you need to stand out from the competition. Of course, there is much more to social media than simply posting photos on Facebook of the first-class lorries or vans your company just purchased. From frequently engaging with customers to posting relevant and informative blog posts, developing and implementing an effective social media marketing strategy gives removal companies the opportunity to significantly increase their business. The following takes a look at how these companies can use social media to their advantage for gaining home moving customers.

Image Source: Removals Bristol | we like 2 move it

Customer Engagement
Moving companies who regularly engage with customers on their social media sites enhance their reputation in the eyes of both current and prospective clients. One of the best things a moving company can do is simply listen and be available when someone inquires about their relocation products and services. In fact, 51 per cent of consumers who report they have asked a question via social media expect a response, preferably within one hour. They also state that engagement makes them look more favorably at the business.

Engaging Facebook Posts
Customers frequently like for removal companies to post relevant blogs/ articles or entertaining personal stories. However, they prefer something short and sweet, as opposed to long winded. Shorter Facebook posts get 23 per cent more interaction. Even better, keeping posts below 250 characters can increase your engagement by 60 per cent. Here’s a quick and easy idea. On Throwback Thursday, post a short story about something funny that happened during a move. If you have a picture, add it. Articles and posts with visual images get 94 per cent more views than those without them.

Stay Away From Sales Pitches on Social Media
Social media is all about connecting with others, being enlightened or entertained, and having a bit of fun. In a recent poll, consumers admitted that they didn’t like sales pitches all over social media. They prefer entertaining content that makes them laugh or think about something.

Twitter Can Successfully Attract Clients
Millions of individuals access Twitter every day, which gives moving companies the perfect opportunity to attract new business. It’s important to send out Tweets that keep your audience engaged and even spark conversations. For example, Tweet out an interesting fact about moving, such as just 1 in 5 people end up living more than 200 miles away from where their first house was located. Follow it up with a question, such as “Do you?” 70 per cent of people re-tweet because they like a business’s content. You are bound to reach a few new followers, and potential customers, this way.

Using social media to network and market relocation services and products is relatively new to the removal and storage industry, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be an extremely effective way to promote and grow your company. As an added bonus, you’ll be ahead of your competition who haven’t yet broken into social media.

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